From the Vault: 2001 at MICA

Inspired by Ernesto Neto's work, I wanted to make totally desirable and interactive sculpture. This one, really a materials test, turned into a sculpture that lived in the back of my car for a year, taken out on special occasions (usually involving beer.) People loved it. It probably worked more successfully as an IKEA prototype than an actual art piece, but it got me hooked on interactivity for sculpture.




This is my largest sculpture to date. Though the concept was sophomoric, the craftsmanship was decent. With the help of stellar-teacher-D. Mydlack, I welded the legs and welded out 3/4" steel weights for the base of the legs. The red body is carved out of pink insulation foam glued together (it's a hard solid body) and coated with orange then red flocking. The legs are red- and teal-dyed China silk, stuffed with Polyfil. The sculpture sways when you hug the legs. A big hit with kids, this sculpture was interactively just right.




That sculpture was loosely based on a series of drawings, one of which is here along with a detail: 24"x36", graphite and pencil on Rives BFK

detail: